Competition
The competition site is located in a neighborhood wich integrates residential and office buildings, alternating with parks and green spaces. The rearrangement of neighboring parcels of land and the construction of a new building that houses the different functions (from residences, to the day care center for the elderly, to the kindergarten), represents an opportunity to form a New Ecosystem of the Territory, harmonious, coherent, and in line with the peculiarities of the context. The compact and linear insertion of the new building is intended to lead to an inclusive strategy capable of involving the existing buildings, highlighting the new central courtyard: a new permeable and meeting space for the community formed by the connections between the new public spaces, in synergy with each other. The new courtyard is defined through the harmonious arrangement of the built volume, so as to integrate into the existing urban situation, according to the main North/South orientation. The design is based on the complementarity of two structures: a load-bearing structure, composed of reinforced concrete pillars and floors, which provides great spatial flexibility on each floor, from which a lightweight metal structure is hung perimeterally, enveloping the building and defining the horizontal circulation system on each floor (balcony on the north, balconies on the south). The central core of circulation, around which the building is developed, delimits the different functions that make up the program. The relationship between the inner envelope and the outer skin creates unexpected architectural situations that enhance and characterize both the public and private spaces of the apartments, allowing cultural and social exchange among the building’s inhabitants. The flexibility of the modular structure, plumbing arrangements, and the balcony circulation system allows for a maximum of 24 apartments, occupying the modules used as terraces to the east and west, or reducing the number of them to obtain additional terraces and common spaces.
Year
2023
Location
Lugano, Switzerland
Project
SOLUM + Matteo Clerici + Ludovica Franchetti Pardo
Images
Archealizar
Competition
The competition site is located in a neighborhood wich integrates residential and office buildings, alternating with parks and green spaces. The rearrangement of neighboring parcels of land and the construction of a new building that houses the different functions (from residences, to the day care center for the elderly, to the kindergarten), represents an opportunity to form a New Ecosystem of the Territory, harmonious, coherent, and in line with the peculiarities of the context. The compact and linear insertion of the new building is intended to lead to an inclusive strategy capable of involving the existing buildings, highlighting the new central courtyard: a new permeable and meeting space for the community formed by the connections between the new public spaces, in synergy with each other. The new courtyard is defined through the harmonious arrangement of the built volume, so as to integrate into the existing urban situation, according to the main North/South orientation. The design is based on the complementarity of two structures: a load-bearing structure, composed of reinforced concrete pillars and floors, which provides great spatial flexibility on each floor, from which a lightweight metal structure is hung perimeterally, enveloping the building and defining the horizontal circulation system on each floor (balcony on the north, balconies on the south). The central core of circulation, around which the building is developed, delimits the different functions that make up the program. The relationship between the inner envelope and the outer skin creates unexpected architectural situations that enhance and characterize both the public and private spaces of the apartments, allowing cultural and social exchange among the building’s inhabitants. The flexibility of the modular structure, plumbing arrangements, and the balcony circulation system allows for a maximum of 24 apartments, occupying the modules used as terraces to the east and west, or reducing the number of them to obtain additional terraces and common spaces.
Year
2023
Location
Lugano, Switzerland
Project
SOLUM + Matteo Clerici + Ludovica Franchetti Pardo
Images
Archealizar
SOLUM is an architecture office based in Milan established in 2019 by Mattia Agates, Lorenzo Campagna, Filippo Gismondi and Alessandro Loda after their graduation at the Accademia di Architettura di Mendrisio, (CH).
The studio works with a diversity of projects at various scales from urban planning to interior projects. It has participated in several national and international competitions, also in collaboration with other architects, winning some prizes and awards.
SOLUM is also involved in research and education activities as design teaching assistants at the Politecnico di Milano and Accademia di Architettura di Mendrisio USI.
Mattia Agates, Rome 1994
He graduated in 2019 from Accademia di Architettura di Mendrisio USI, in Switzerland. In 2015, he worked for Al-Jawad Pike Architects in London. In 2017, in Mendrisio, he founded the student association Concreto and Archealizar, a studio for the realization of images of architecture and design. In 2019 he founded SOLUM. From 2024 he’s teaching assistant at Accademia di Architettura di Mendrisio USI.
Lorenzo Campagna, Rome 1994
He graduated in 2019 from Accademia di Architettura di Mendrisio USI, in Switzerland. In 2015, he worked for Manuel Aires Mateus in Lisbon. In 2017 he worked for Itten Brechbuhl in Lugano and in Mendrisio, he founded the student association Concreto and Archealizar, a studio for the realization of images of architecture and design. From 2019 he’s teaching assistant at Politecnico di Milano and from 2024 at Accademia di Architettura di Mendrisio USI. In 2019 he founded SOLUM.
Filippo Gismondi, Milan 1994
He graduated in 2019 from Accademia di Architettura di Mendrisio USI, in Switzerland. In 2015, he worked for Manuel Aires Mateus in Lisbon. In 2017, in Mendrisio, he founded the student association Concreto and Archealizar, a studio for the realization of images of architecture and design. From 2019 he’s teaching assistant at Politecnico di Milano. In 2019 he founded SOLUM.
Alessandro Loda, Desenzano 1994
He graduated in 2019 from Accademia di Architettura di Mendrisio USI, in Switzerland. In 2015, he worked for HKS Architects in London. In 2017, in Mendrisio, he founded the student association Concreto and Archealizar, a studio for the realization of images of architecture and design. In 2019 he founded SOLUM.
Collaborators
Laura Acanfora, Alberto Allevi, Giovanni Battocletti, Silvia Beretta, Niccolò Calabrese de Feo, Giulia Grifoni, Gian Mario Vecchiato